CASE: Los Angeles Best Babies Network

Overview: The goal was to create a visually compelling timeline that highlighted the accomplishments of the Los Angeles Best Babies Network. The challenge was that the Network had a mountain of disconnected data about their story and they needed this product hanging in a conference in two weeks. To meet the challenge, our strategy was to create a robust information architecture and visual metaphor as a scaffold for the Network’s story. From there, we used a series of short iterative cycles to collaboratively create the graphic product in the time we had. The outcome was that the Los Angeles Best Babies Network was able to tell its story with gusto and plant seeds for even greater support among its stakeholders. To download the entire product click here.

Goal: A visually compelling timeline to highlight the accomplishments of the Los Angeles Best Babies Network. The Network had a decade-long track record to synthesize that included information about the changing conditions in their field of health care, pregnant teens, young mothers and fathers, and other social conditions in California. This product was to be used at a conference of stakeholders and funders to build awareness and support for the Network’s mission.

Challenge: There was a mountain of disconnected data and a deadline in two weeks. To complicate matters, there were significant changes in the context of their work of ten years at the levels of city, county and state. They had no integrating theme that could organize and prioritize all the information about their evolution and results. And, they needed it sorted and done in two weeks.

Solution:Create a robust information architecture and visual metaphor as a scaffold for the Network’s story. From there, use a series of short iterative cycles to collaboratively create the graphic product. Here’s how it worked. First we identified the classes of information they needed to convey and the physical form they needed it in. From there, the information architecture emerged that would allow them to tell their story with one poster per year, each with the same informational elements. Hung in a line, a decade’s worth of posters would create an impressive linear array that could be viewed as a stream or timeline, though each was a stand along product. Next, we gathered the copy for each of the classes of information that form the Network’s story. In this process the metaphor of trees, roots and fruit orchards surfaced – which is consistent with the history of agriculture in the greater Los Angeles region. The work flow consisted of about four iterative cycles.

Outcomes:Los Angeles Best Babies Network was able to tell its story with gusto and plant seeds for even greater support among its stakeholders. With a quick and disciplined iterative process, we co-created nine posters in two weeks with the help of three folks from the Network. The visual metaphor showed evolution from a barren urban lot to a vibrant community orchard and farmers market. This metaphor carried all aspects of the story easily. The information architecture used in the posters facilitates repurposing the graphic and informational elements for many different media: posters, slide shows, web site elements, storytelling brochures, etc.